The Ocean

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How to Combat Seasickness

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SEA SICKNESS

Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a seasoned seafarer, stomach cramps and nausea are never ideal. If you tend to suffer from motion sickness, then feeling queasy during a cruise can sometimes be a worry.

A person feeling sick

But luckily, there are plenty of ways to keep it at bay while you’re at sea. From swigging a can of Coke to choosing the right cabin, we’ll let you in on a few tried-and-true methods to combat seasickness, as well as what causes it, below…

The Ocean

WHAT CAUSES SEASICKNESS?

Seasickness is a matter of sensory mismatch. It happens when there’s a conflict between your eyes and inner ears (which help with balance), which comes as a result of the rocking motion of the ship.

A Persons Ear

Essentially, when you can’t see motion but your inner ear can sense it, this confuses the brain and causes queasiness, which may result in vomiting in the worst cases.

A persons Eye

DO YOU GET SEASICK ON A CRUISE?

If getting seasick on a cruise ship is a concern, then here’s something to put those worries at ease: most people simply don’t get seasick while at sea. Technological advancements in ship design and stabilisers to keep the boat from rocking mean that it’s rarely an issue; it’ll more than likely be smooth sailing wherever it is in the world you’re travelling to.

A Woman leaning on a railing looking out over the ocean

If you feel as though it will be an issue, however, then we’d recommend avoiding itineraries with a lot of time spent sailing in open water. Instead, go for something with regular shore excursions.

A good way to literally test the waters is booking a short cruise on a large ship. We offer plenty of 3-night cruises which are great for first-timers looking to dip a toe into a holiday on the water. Once you’ve found your sea legs and got through a cruise without feeling seasick, you’ll soon be ready to move on to longer itineraries.

Valiant Lady - Virgin Voyages
The Valiant Lady

HOW TO STOP SEASICKNESS

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